Not a huge jump imo considering those 23 wins were in a shortened season.

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BROOKLYN NETS
2011-12 Record: 22-44
2012-13 Projection: 48-34

SACRAMENTO KINGS
2011-12 Record: 22-44
2012-13 Projection: 40-42

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
2011-12 Record: 23-43
2012-13 Projection: 39-43

TORONTO RAPTORS
2011-12 Season: 23-43
2012-13 Projection: 37-45

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
2011-12 Season: 21-45
2012-13 Projection: 42-40

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The Raptors are a pretty unique team. While nobody was looking, they’ve stockpiled a pretty solid roster, top-to-bottom.

They have two really good point guards in the newly acquired Kyle Lowry and Jose “I Get 9 Dimes Per Game, Somebody Trade For Me” Calderon. Good enough guys on the wing in DeMar DeRozan, the overpaid-but-solid Landry Fields and rookie Terrance Ross.

The team really gets interesting in the post, where they have Andrea Bargnani, who averaged nearly 20 points per contest last season, and Jonas Valanciunas, who they grabbed fifth overall a year ago and will finally join the team for the upcoming season.

Of course, like most teams on this worst-to-first list, the Raptors need some things to break their way. If Valanciunas is as good as people believe he will be, he and Bargnani will turn into quite the tandem in the paint (though I don’t think Bargnani has step foot in the paint since ’96). DeRozan may be a 20 percent career three-point shooter, but he finds ways to score, averaging just shy of 17 points per game in the ’11-12 season.

Fields was an awful signing financially, but there isn’t a team in the NBA that wouldn’t welcome his services. A shooting guard who won’t shoot the team in the foot is a valuable asset. But he’ll need to regain his pre-Melo New York confidence to be really productive.

Ross was a reach at eighth overall, but they must like him to have taken him rather than trade back with a team like Houston who wanted to move up to grab Andre Drummond or Austin Rivers.

The bench is solid. Assuming they hang onto Calderon (if I was running the Bulls, I’d be trying to work something out as we speak), they’ll have a starting caliber point guard alongside Ross, Linas Kleiza (10 and 4 per game last year), Ed Davis and Amir Johnson. They lack a classic sixth man instant-offense guy, but it’s good enough. Good enough for what, you may ask.

Well, this Raptors team won’t be fighting for home court advantage in postseason. They’re not better than Miami, New York, Brooklyn, Indiana, Boston or (probably) Philly, but they’re right there after that. Atlanta and Orlando will likely take steps back next season, opening up the bottom of the conference to a handful of teams. Toronto will be in the thick of the race for those seventh and eighth spots after missing the Playoffs by 12 games last season. That’s improvement.

I dont understand the love for the Kings and Hornets. The Hornets are really weak on the bench and their starting lineup hasnt improved leaps and bounds either. The only way they win 30+ games let alone 40+ is if Davis has a Duncan like rookie year, and they acquire a starting SF before the season and some bench pieces.

And the Kings are even more disjointed, and they too didnt add anything to turn their team around.

We have a much better chance at a larger turnaround than these teams as we have a deeper team with more proven players. But again, our success will come from the improvement of Derozan, the rookies impact, and most importantly, how quickly we gel as a team on both sides of the ball.

I'm not sold on the Kings current roster making that kind of a leap, either. Sacramento has a group of talented young individuals, but they don't look like a team. They'd be well served to move a couple of their younger players for a vet presence. I mean, what's the deal with picking up players like Aaron Brooks? The Kings don't have enough guys who look to shoot before passing? I don't get some of their moves. But they might have a potential beast froncourt in two years, with Robinson and Cousins. Unfortunately, right now, they've got mostly shoot first guards and wings.

I'm gonna go on a limb (like I always do), and say no less than .500 for us, but not much neither. The EC is very weak in terms of competition and I believe 42 wins is enough to make the 6th seed, but it all depends on health, and whether the young guys improve like they're suppost to. Otherwise, the roster is indeed solid and depth will be able to win a few extra games in the regular season.

The EC is very weak in terms of competition and I believe 42 wins is enough to make the 6th seed

based on last year alone i highly doubt that. The 8th seed had a .530 winning percentage. I think you underestimate teams like washington, philadelphia and even milwaukee. i think it'll take 39-40 wins just to sneek into 8th. because beyond miami nobody will dominate, therefore teams like the raps and those teams i just mentioned should be in and around .500 and be competitive vs each other and beat up on the orlando's and charlotte's of the world. look at chicago, any of these teams afraid of them?

based on last year alone i highly doubt that. The 8th seed had a .530 winning percentage. I think you underestimate teams like washington, philadelphia and even milwaukee. i think it'll take 39-40 wins just to sneek into 8th. because beyond miami nobody will dominate, therefore teams like the raps and those teams i just mentioned should be in and around .500 and be competitive vs each other and beat up on the orlando's and charlotte's of the world. look at chicago, any of these teams afraid of them?

Teams that should be around the .500 mark or a little better/competing for 6-7-8 seed
Philadelphia
Milwaukee
Toronto
Chicago

IMO 42 wins might not even get you 7th. I think you now need 40-41 wins to be an 8th seed.

I see the Bucks just missing the playoffs last year but are much improved and can see them pushing for a sixth or seventh seed.

The Cavs were on a tear last year until Irving got hurt - the team is also better.

Washington will surprise a lot of teams and fans next year - especially if they are healthy.

The Bobcats with Haywood, Biyombo, MKG, Gordon and Sessions with Mullens, TT, Henderson and Walker off the bench will be surprising a lot if they can gel.

I also don't believe the Bulls will struggle as much without Rose as some think. Yes they lost players from their bench as well but seriously, too much is made of Asik and Brewer leaving - the signings of Vlady, Nazr, Nate, Heinrich, Bellineli and Teague will make up for that. I actually feel that Nazr and Boozer will play well together, probably better than with Asik. The Bulls also have Vlady, Boozer, Gibson at PF - the team can go small with one of those at c, most likely when Nate is pushing the speed of the game. When Rose comes back - my guess shortly after the all-star break that team will be much better and will be very dangerous come playoff time.

I don't believe Philly will make the playoffs. I think they will struggle enough that come trade deadline they will trade AI to TO for cap space and assets.

I guess, in short and IMO, they're more teams overall in the EC that are improved enough to make the Conference very exciting this coming year. Sure, not the competition level of the West but much more parity and unknown factors on teams that will make the playoff picture quite interesting.

If we do not lose our key players (like Barg, DD, Lowry, etc.) due to injuries, then we are capable of achieving 45+ wins.

We have a solid starting/backup roster lineup for 2012-13 season, so we should be good enough to make it to playoff this season.

so you're saying this team is on par or near the level of the 06-07 team? I love this team and even I don't think that highly of them. if we had AI instead of caldy on this team, then maybe, just maybe, if every single thing went right, thne I'd agree. but otherwise, 40 wins maximum. I don't see this team hitting 50 percent. think we'll be eighth with this in mind.

Really? Imo our bench is a weakness, Calderon/Ross/Kleiza/Davis/Gray doesn't give me great confidence on either end.

How many pg's can you name that are better than Jose of the bench?
Ross is still a question so we will have to wait, Kleiza seems to be in great shape now he will be very effective. Amir/Ed is far from weakness as a second unit, and for C I think JV will come of the bench at first

Why? I think that's a solid bench. No real weakness at any position. They are all capable starters. Even Amir can play with Davis aswell if he's still here.

This. Jose is probably the best backup PG in the league. LKZ chips in nicely when he plays 20-24 mpg. Amir +/or ED would do well against other backup bigs. Ross would get to develop nicely off the bench not playing against starters.

Really? Imo our bench is a weakness, Calderon/Ross/Kleiza/Davis/Gray doesn't give me great confidence on either end.

Against other teams benches, that lineup should be fine defensively. But it's not like 2nd units all get subbed in as a five man unit. The minutes will be staggered, usually allowing for a starter or two to be on the court at all times, so Casey can cover deficiencies for some of the minutes.

BTW, Jonas and Amir will be playing some minutes with that second unit because Gray will start some games, even though Amir will likely get more MPG over the course of the full season. I expect it to vary depending on the size of the opposing center. Gray likely starts against the real huge bodies.

Amir has good chemistry with Caldy, so when they're together on the second unit, they will work well. Back in 2010, when Jarret Jack took over as starter, Caldy actually looked for his shot more. Calderon torched some opposing 2nd units when the Raps went on that run before Bosh got hurt. And, when healthy, I think Kleiza can be a solid contributor. Ross? Who knows? He's the real wildcard.